4 Affordable International Opportunities to Boost Your College Experience
Calling All Students at Southern Oregon University
Travel is expensive! There is no doubt about it, especially when you’re a college student. However, the personal reward from international experience is well worth doing during college and post-graduate careers. There are so many opportunities abroad that can open new doors to the future, plus the good news is, is that there are affordable ways to do it! This article is a resource for SOU students interested in participating in some sort of international program but don’t quite know where to start or need some ideas on affording travel when participating in studying abroad, volunteering, national exchanges or international internship opportunities.
- Direct Exchange with SOU Partner Universities
Southern Oregon University is affiliated with partner universities in Japan, Mexico, South Korea, England, France, Germany, and Finland. This is called a reciprocal exchange, as students will pay the normal SOU tuition and fees, but pay for meals and housing in the host country. Participating in one of the partner school programs is a great way to experience a different university setting in another part of the world while learning about other cultures, and meeting new people. Scholarships and financial aid can also be applied to as usual through the reciprocal exchange. Students must apply through the office of international programs located on the 2nd floor of the Stevenson Union. To get more information it is recommended to set up an appointment with a peer adviser.
2. National Student Exchange (NSE)
The National Student Exchange is a coalition of colleges and universities in the United States, Canada, Guam, U.S Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico that offer exchanges through undergraduate programs. NSE is a comfortable and affordable solution to those who may not be fit for overseas travel, yet still provides opportunities for unique courses, internships, field experiences, and programs. Tuition costs are split up into two different options depending on the university. Students can either pay the in-state tuition of their host institution or pay the same as their home university depending on the NSE agreement. For more information about NSE and the list of eligible universities visit their website or visit the study abroad office.
3. SOU Affiliated Programs
Apart from the direct exchanges, there is four affiliated study abroad programs in partnership with SOU. These programs tend to offer a wider range of places to go overseas as well as opportunities involving accredited internships. Federal financial aid is applicable, however, institutional scholarships are not. The affiliated programs have the option for the full academic year, fall or spring semester or summer. Students still enrolled at SOU can receive course credit that will transfer to official SOU transcripts. While these programs tend to have a high price tag in comparison to the other options, there are SO many scholarships available for students interested in going abroad. The four affiliated programs with SOU are Academic Programs International, GEO International, IE3 Global, and SIT Study Abroad. If you’re interested in any of the affiliated programs go to the office of international programs on campus for more information.
4. Workaway
Workaway is an online exchange platform that allows members to arrange homestays and cultural exchange through volunteering. “Workawayers” create a profile to match with potential hosts that offer opportunities for different types of volunteer work all around the world. This could be basic work ranging from gardening, child care, teaching English, maintenance/ building or tourism/hospitality. If you’re looking for more adventurous work, there are even options to work on a sailboat, a scuba dive shop, yoga retreats, animal sanctuaries, and other endless unique opportunities. In exchange for work, hosts provide housing, food, and accommodation depending on pre-agreed work agreement per day and week. Workaway is the best budget-friendly option, considering food and accommodation are taken care of for the most part. Other costs will just include a workaway account of an annual $50, plane tickets, travel insurance (recommended) and other expenses for personal travel. Workaway is not promoted or affiliated through SOU whatsoever. As the author, I choose to include this option, not only because it’s cost-effective, but having personal experience with workaway, I can highly recommend it. Especially recommended for students that want some sort of experience abroad but money may be a factor that discourages them. For more information visit workaway’s website.
More Information
Students interested in international opportunities should consider booking an appointment with an adviser at the Office of International Programs at SOU located on the 2nd floor of the Stevenson Union. Passport services for students and members of the community are also available.
Stevenson Union Room 322. Map Link
1250 Siskiyou Blvd Ashland, OR 97520–5019
Phone: (541) 552–6336
